WWE, the Pearson Foundation and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) today announced the launch of the 2014 WrestleMania Reading Challenge, giving students ages 4-18 the chance to win a trip to WrestleMania 30 on Sunday, April 6 in New Orleans or have a WWE Superstar visit their school.

Beginning today through Friday, March 7, students can sign up for the WrestleMania Reading Challenge at WWEReadingSuperstar.com. Through WWE’s expanded partnership with Pearson Foundation’s digital reading initiative, We Give Books, and YALSA, children between the ages of 4-12 can select a WWE Superstar Reading Buddy and read digital books to participate, while teens ages 13-18 can select a WWE Superstar Pen Pal, read a book and write an essay.

WWE will make a financial contribution to We Give Books and YALSA in order to support literacy initiatives and provide access to books for children across the United States. WWE and its Superstars will also continue to host reading celebrations, visiting kids at local schools and libraries to stress the importance of reading. The celebrations will include special visits from the We Give Books ReadMobile. We Give Books is a digital initiative created by the Penguin Group and the Pearson Foundation to equip families, classrooms and libraries with print and online books for children.

Additionally, WWE will utilize all of its platforms, including TV broadcasts, live events, digital and social media to encourage children to read at school, at home, in their local library or wherever they’re inspired to read.

“Encouraging a lifelong love of reading is at the heart of the We Give Books initiative,” said Pearson Foundation President and CEO Mark Nieker. “Through this important partnership with WWE and YALSA, we are looking to reach more children and their families this year with the message of reading, giving and sharing.”

“It’s a sobering fact that nearly 40 percent of high school graduates are not proficient in traditional literacy skills,” said YALSA President Shannon Peterson. “Together WWE, Pearson and YALSA can make strides towards alleviating this societal problem and building brighter futures for our nation’s youth.”

“WWE is proud to continue its long-standing commitment to literacy initiatives through our partnership with We Give Books and YALSA,” said Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer, WWE. “Children are more digitally connected today than ever before and the WrestleMania Reading Challenge provides them with a unique opportunity to read books both online and in the library.”

Studies show that nothing is more important to a child’s overall success than reading at grade level by third grade. Developing early literacy skills sets a child up for success in school and life.

For more information or to participate in the WrestleMania Reading Challenge, visit WWEReadingSuperstar.com.

About the Pearson Foundation
The Pearson Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to make a difference by promoting literacy, learning, and great teaching. The Pearson Foundation collaborates with leading businesses, nonprofits, and education experts to share good practice; foster innovation; and find workable solutions to the educational disadvantages facing young people and adults across the globe. More information on the Pearson Foundation can be found at www.pearsonfoundation.org.

About We Give Books
We Give Books (www.wegivebooks.org) is a philanthropic program from the Penguin Group and the Pearson Foundation that helps children become a lifelong readers and givers. We Give Books supports literacy through programs that engage entire communities. Working around the world through programs like Booktime and Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, Penguin and the Pearson Foundation have touched millions of lives.

About YALSA
For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail, yalsa@ala.org.

About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Munich and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.